If you don't think Liverpool's display against Chelsea last night was their best of the season, you will surely at least settle for it being one of their best.

The Reds were superb, only being let down by the fact they scored one goal from 20 attempts. That, however, was in no small part down to a world-class goalkeeper standing in their way in Thibaut Courtois.

All over the park, Liverpool's intensity was superb. It way have taken Brendan Rodgers a lot longer than it should have - but the Anfield giants are playing like they should once again.

Yet that level of performance will be worrying for two of Liverpool's current absentees.

Yes, no player will dislike seeing their side do well, especially against a big rival like Chelsea. Seeing your side do so well without you, however, may have an adverse effect.

And that could certainly be the case with Mario Balotelli and Joe Allen.

For the Liverpool duo, based on recent showings, would be absolutely incapable of matching the levels of quality their team-mates produced against Chelsea.

Balotelli is the complete antithesis of last night's display. He doesn't link up and offload the ball quickly to those around him. He doesn't come short to the ball and show plenty of movement in the final third. He doesn't work - let alone hard - off the ball.

And it's a similar situation with Allen. Would he really be able to tackle, play one-twos, pass and press the way Liverpool's stars did last night (like Lucas Leiva, Jordan Henderson, Lazar Markovic and more)?

Right now, the answer is a resounding no. Both Allen and Balotelli would have been watching Liverpool's draw with Chelsea and thinking 'I couldn't compete, here.' And, if that's not what came to mind, they weren't quite being honest with themselves.

Tim Poole

Tim Poole is a sports journalist for HITC with a love of football, tennis and snooker in particular.His career to date has seen him speak to former Manchester United boss David Moyes, interview snooker world champion Mark Selby and be snubbed by Premier League managers and players in more than one language!He is a massive Roger Federer fan and lives by the motto that 'sport is life.' When he's not writing about it, he's playing it, be it football, tennis, basketball, badminton, table tennis, darts, snooker, golf or even water polo. He is better at some than others...